diff --git a/libraries/helpers.rb b/libraries/helpers.rb
index 25a3051..f6dd544 100644
--- a/libraries/helpers.rb
+++ b/libraries/helpers.rb
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ module ChefVaultCookbook
   # @param [String] bag Name of the data bag to load from.
   # @param [String] id Identifier of the data bag item to load.
   def chef_vault_item(bag, id)
-    if ChefVault::Item.vault?(bag, id)
+    if Chef::DataBag.load(bag).key?("#{id}_keys")
       ChefVault::Item.load(bag, id)
     elsif node['chef-vault']['databag_fallback']
       Chef::DataBagItem.load(bag, id)